As Frank DeGroat Jr. was preparing for the 2015 WBSC Men’s World Softball Championship he expected to be primarily used as designated hitter for the United States.

But an injury to the team’s starting catcher has meant the 40-year-old veteran is going to carry the load behind the plate as well.

“That’s why you come into this tournament with several catchers so that if one of your catchers get injured, someone can step in,” said DeGroat, who was behind the plate for the U.S. in their 7-0 defeat of Mexico in their opening game Friday.

His 10 years of play on the national team has helped DeGroat to transition into being an everyday player on the field.

“I’m in the gym six times a week, so I’m definitely in shape for it,” he said. “But it’s the mental preparation that changes. Now you go from the DH role to actually take the field and control what goes on on the field.”

He knows his pitchers well, and most of the opposition batters.

“During the season I have caught all the guys, but not extensively,” said DeGroat, who went o-2 with a walk and run scored against Mexico.

“You know what your pitchers like to go to when they are behind in the count, what their strikeout pitch is and what they don’t want to throw in certain counts. And the more you are around the more you familiarize yourself (with the game) and that builds comfort for yourself and (the pitchers) who know you are going to a do great job.”

The 6-foot-3 slugger from Ringwood, New Jersey, was in Saskatoon back in 2009 for the world championships where he was the starting catcher for the U.S. and hit .279 (5-18) with three RBIs, one home run and three runs scored during the tournament.

This time around DeGroat may not be counted on as much to produce runs, but he will be counted on for his knowledge.

“One thing the years have taught me is patience,” he said. “I have been all over the world and I have learned that it’s not over until there is 21 outs,” he said. “I have been on the end where we have been run-ruled (behind by seven runs after five innings) and I’ve been in situations where it looked like we were going to be run-ruled and we’ve turned it around and won the game.

“(In 2009) I was starting every game. I was prepared to catch every game. Now my role as catcher has diminished so I carry the knowledge of the players I’ve faced into this (tournament). I know hitters and have studied them.”

He said the team is strong and they expect nothing less than being in the championship game.

“The sky is the limit,” De-Groat said. “We came here to win. We didn’t come here for second or third place.”

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